Lewiston a struggling city

This is a response to a Sun Journal story, “It becomes a question of morality” (March 23).

Lewiston Rep. Jared Golden, Bates students and faculty and Project Pericles Debating For Democracy should understand that Lewiston is a struggling city, and it doesn’t have the funds to put up uninvited, non-citizen interlopers.

The state reimburses Lewiston 70 percent of the funds it doles out to those interlopers. Lewiston does not get reimbursed for the very substantial expense needed to administer those programs.

The majority of Lewiston’s population makes less than two-thirds of what Bates students pay for tuition. Lewiston’s population is made up of everyday practical people. While not frugal, they are not elitists. They can’t afford, nor would they pay, more than $4 for a cup of coffee at Starbucks.

If Bates College would like to assume the noble cost of helping those people, relieving that burden from Lewiston taxpayers, it would be appreciated.

I would remind Rep. Golden that he represents the citizens of Lewiston and Maine. If he wants to be a missionary, he should resign his seat. If he wants to continue in Augusta, he should focus on the citizens of Maine.